Storage device for brushes



R. w. HILL STORAGE DEVICE FOR BRUSHES March 1, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Feb. 20, 1958 March 1, 1960 R. w. HILL 2,926,776

STORAGE DEVICE FOR BRUSHES Filed Feb. 20, 1958 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 2,926,776 STORAGE DEVICE FOR BRUSHES Ross W. Hill,Detroit, Mich. Application February 20, 1958, Serial No. 716,335 1Claim. (Cl. 206-451) This invention relates to storage devices forbrushes and, more particularly, to such a device containing a suitablethinner such as turpentine in which the bristles of the brushes may beimmersed for temporary or extended periods of time.

Brushes such as those used in painting, varnishing and the like arenormally immersed for periods of time in a suitable thinner, such asturpentine, in order to clean them for subsequent use, and to maintainthem as soft as possible. Normally, such brushes are placed in a jar,pail, can or other suitable container in such a manner that .the weigh-tof the brush is imposed on the bristles thereof causing them to bendduring the soaking period. This is undesirable inasmuch as a brushhaving straight bristles is most effective in smoothly and accuratelyapplying paint or varnish to a surface. Moreover, since such brushesconventionally include a plurality of bristles embedded in a base ofvulcanized rubber or other suitable materials which deteriorate whensoaked with such thinners as normally employed for the above purpose, itis important that the level of the thinner in the container does notreach the bristle base so as to soak the latter, while yet completelysoaking the bristles to prevent hardening of the paint, varnish or thelike therein.

These problems are particularly acute with respect to commercialpainters, although not limited thereto, because such painters normallyuse a plurality of brushes of different sizes for painting largesurfaces and for doing trim or finish work. When brushes having varyinglengths of bristles are used, it will be apparent that they all cannotrest on the bottom of a container with the bristles thereof immersed toan optimum extent in the thinner without some brush ha ving the bristlebase thereof completely soaked with the thinner. Moreover, and as.aforementioned, it is desirable that the brush bristles be suspendedabove the bottom of the container.

Therefore, it is a general object of this invention to provide a storagedevice for brushes of the type having bristles suitably embedded in abase secured to a handle, and characterized by the fact that verticallyadjustable support means is provided for any given brush whereby thelatter may be suspended with its bristles out of contact with the bottomof the storage container.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a storagecontainer of the type aforementioned which is relatively compact, and inwhich a plurality of brushes of varying sizes may be supported out ofcontact with the container.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a storagecontainer of the type aforementioned comprising a vertically adjustablebrush support on which a given brush may be suspended substantiallyvertically in order to maintain the bristles thereof out of contact withthe container, and secure optimum immersion of the bristles withoutsoaking the bristle base.

Moreover, it is yet another object of this invention to provide astorage container for brushes of a type aforementioned in which aplurality of brushes of varying sizes can be stored either a long periodof time without damaging the bristles.

These and other objects of this invention will become more fullyapparent hereinafter as the description of the invention proceeds, andreference is made to the following drawings in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of a preferred form of the storage device ofthis invention with the lid or cover thereof removed;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the storagedevice shown in Figure 2, and particularly disclosing a representativesupport mechanism for the brushes;

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the structure of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view through the storage deviceshowing the latter equippedwi-th a suitable lid or cover.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a rectangularly shapedcontainer 2 comprising four wall panels joined together to form a sidewall 4, and which side wall is secured to the bottom 6 of the container.Although the container may be of other shapes, the rec tangularconfiguration shown is preferred inasmuch as maximum utilization of thespace thereof can be made in storing brushes. A plurality of brushsupport mechanisms indicated generally at 8, 10, 12 and 14 are spacedalong the major axis of the preferred container, and are adapted toadjustably vertically support a plurality of paint brushes and the likeof varying sizes out of contact with the container, and in a position inwhich optimum immersion of the brush bristles will be obtained withoutsubjecting the bristle'base to the soaking action of the thinner in thecontainer.

As shown particularly in Figure 1, the support mechanisms 8 and 10 maybe adapted to removably and adjustably mount thereon one or two brushes,

. wall portions while the support mechanisms 12 and 14 are adapted tosimilarly support anywhere from one to four brushes. Naturally, anydesired number of brush support mechanisms may be employed with a givencontainer subject only to the size of the latter and the brushes to bestored therein. In any event it is contemplated within the scope of thisinvention to provide a storage container which is large enough so that arange of brush sizes corresponding to those normally required during apainting operation, for example, maybe stored in the same container.Thus, the support mechanisms 8 and 10 are adapted to mount the largerbrushes, while support mechanisms 12 and 14 are adapted to supportprogressively smaller brushes.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 3 and 4, the detailedstructure of the support mechanism 8 will be described. The supportmechanism 8 may be seen to be comprised of a thin support panel 16,preferably but not necessarily formed of sheet metal, which extendstransversely across the major axis of the container within the interiorof the latter, and having flanges 18 formed at the ends thereof suitablysecured to the interior opposite of the container. It will be noted thatthe bottom edge of the support panel is spaced above the bottom of thecontainer, which will be the case with all support panels utilized inthe container, so that the latter may be readily filled with and emptiedof liquid thinner. However, if desired, the respective support panelscould be sealed to the bottom of the container in order to compartmentalize the latter for special situations in which one or morebrushes or groups of brushes are being used with different colors ofpaint or dilferent types of varnishes which it is undesirable to mixinthe thinner. In any event, the support panel 16 is provided with anelondry or with a liquid thinner for gate vertical slot 20 substantiallyat its mid point, although this slot may be located closer to either orboth ends of the panel or any number of slots may be used in the panelwithin reason, as will be apparent hereinafter "with reference to thesupport mechanisms 12 and 14.

upper edge of the support panel 16 insures that the mounting plate willnot descend too far into the interior of the container 2. Suitablefastener means 3%), herein shown to be a bolt and cooperating nut,passes through aligned apertures in the walls 24 and 26- ot' the plateand the V elongate slot 2 3 in the support panel 16. From the abovedescription, it will be obvious that the fastener means 3t) can beloosened to permit any desired vertical adjustment of the mounting platestructure relative to the support panel 16. Brackets 31 secured to thepanel 16 embrace the mounting plate structure as shown to maintain thelatter in substantially vertically sliding engagement with the panel 16.i

Secured to the wall portions 24 and 26 of the mounting plate arehorizontally aligned mounting or hanger means, herein shown to bebrackets 32, on which a brush is adapted to be removably mounted. Eachof the brackets 32 comprises a main body portion 34 fixedly secured toits associated wall portion of the mounting plate, an upper horizontallyextending flange or wall portion 36 terminating in a verticallyupstanding post 33 adapted to receive a suitable keeper 40 secured tothe handle of a paint brush and herein shown specifically to be asubstantially U-shaped staple. Moreover, another horizontally extendingflange 42 extends from the lower end of the main body portion 34 of eachbracket and terminates below the post 38.

The brushes indicated generally at 44 may, for purpose of illustration,be conventional and readily commercially available paint brushescomprising a plurality of bristles 46 suitably embedded or secured in abristle base of vulcanized rubber, or other suitable material, which issecured to the lower end of the wood handle 48 by means of a metal band50 having its lower edge crimped tothe bottom of the bristle base whilesuitable means, such as tacks or nails, secure the upper portion of thisband to the lower end of the handle 43. The keeper means 40, such as theU-shaped staple shown, is embedded in the lower portion of the handleabove the metal band 50.

The aforementioned staple is adapted to receive the post 33 of themounting bracket and to rest upon the upper horizontal shoulder 36 tosuspend the brush in the container. At the same time, the lowerhorizontal flange or projection 42 of the mounting bracket forms anabutment member engageable with the metal band be of the brush to retainthe latter in a substantially vertical position. The upper horizontalshoulder or flange is of substantial width so as to cooperate with thebase of a U-shaped staple on the brush to prevent substantial pivotingaction of the brush in a plane parallel to the support panel 16.Obviously, the lower flange or abutment member 42 will prevent thebrush, or more specifically the bristles thereof, from wiping againstany portion of the support mechanism 8.

From the above description, it will be apparent that the supportmechanisms 12 and 14 likewise include a single support panelcorresponding to the support panel 16, but have two laterally spacedelongate slots for cooperation with the vertically adjustable brushmounting ructure. Inasmuch as these structures will be identical to thatpreviously described, it is not considered necessary to repeat thisdescription.

Therefore, any desired number of support mechanisms may be employed witha container of suitable size to mount therein a plurality of brushes.Such a construction may be employed to great advantage as a dry storagedevice for brushes which no longer need to be soaked in a liquid thinnerand, during such storage, the bristles of the respective brushes will bemaintained out of engagement with any portion of the container or itsrespective support mechanism. To this end, it is only necessary toadjust a respective mounting plate relative to its support panel untilthe bristles of a particular size brush will be suspended above thebottom of the container. Moreover, a suitable number of supportmechanisms in which the mounting plates thereof are suitably verticallyadjusted may be employed with a single container to house and store aplurality of brushes of varying sizes.

When it is desired to store brushes of different sizes immersed in aliquid thinner within the container, the structure of this invention hasthe additional advantage of maintaining the bristles of each brushimmersed to an optimum extent within the thinner while preventing thebristle base from becoming soaked with the thinner, thereby avoiding thedeteriorating action which usually follows. For example, the level of aliquid thinner within the container is indicated at 52 in Figure 2. Thebrushes mounted, respectively, on the support mechanisms 8 and 19represent commercially available brushes of difierent sizes which willdemonstrate this aspect of the invention.

In such brushes which are commercially available, the distance betweenthe lower edge of the metal band 50 corresponding to the bottom of thebristle base and the portion of the handle on which the keeper or hanger40 is secured will vary. The mounting staple is, of course, placed inthe same general position in the lower handle portion of the variousbrushes inasmuch as it will interfete with the handling of the brushvery little in this position, and this portion of the handle is largeenough to receive it without cracking the handle. Moreover, from amanufacturing standpoint, it is wholly undesirable to measure thedistance from the bottom of the metal bands of each brush to a point onthe handle thereof where a staple or other hanger or keeper means may beplaced in order to make the aforementioned spacing equal from brush tobrush. Thus, it will be seen that the brush on -.support mechanism 10must be mounted lower than the brush on support mechanism is in order todispose the bottom of the bristle base just slightly above the level ofthe liquid thinner 52. With the brushes so vertically sus pended, thebristles thereof are subjected to a complete soaking to remove thepaint, varnish or the like therefrom while preventing soaking andconsequent deterioration of the bristle base.

At this juncture it should be noted that the preferred embodiment of theinvention disclosed above is merely for illustrative purposes, and is inno way intended to limit the scope of this invention. In particular, thesupport mechanisms and particular mounting brackets and keeper staplesmay take many and various forms. For example, the elongate slot 20 inthe support panel 16 could be formed in the wall portions 24 and 26 ofthe mounting plate, while the fastener passes therethrough an alignedaperture in the support panel 16. In either case, freedom of relativemovement between the mounting plate and support panel is achieved uponloosening of the fastener means. Still further, the specific bracketstructure disclosed may take many other forms among which are thosedisclosed in my co -pending application S.N. 716,336, filed February 20,1958, and entitled, Support For Liquid Applicator.

in Figure 5, the container 2 is shown with a suitable cover 54 which isadapted to be secured inany suitable manner to the container, and isprovided with a carrying handle 56. A gasket or sealing member 58carried at the edge of cover 54 seats on a continuous shoulder 66 oncontainer 2 to sealingly enclose the interior of the container.

I claim:

A storage device for brushes of the type having a plurality of bristlesheld ina bristle base secured to the lower end of a handle, said devicecomprising a container formed of a side wall and bottom joined togetherfor retaining a liquid thinner there a plurality of spaced panels fixedto the container side wall and extending across the interior of saidcontainer above the bottom of the latter, a vertically elongate slot ineach of said panels, a support plate for each of'said panels comprisingspaced walls embracing a respective panel, selectively engageablefastener means extending between the spaced walls of each support plateand through the slot of the respective panel for independentlyadjustably slidably vertically positioning said plates relative to thelevel of the liquid in and the bottom of said container, horizontallyaligned bracket means on the walls of each of said support plates,

6 said bracket means comprising a hook-shaped vertical load supportingportion and a lateral projection therebelow, said portion and projectionbeing spaced from said panels and engageable with said brush to maintainthe latter suspended substantially vertically.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS491,093' Edgerton Feb. 7, 1893 1,294,916 Knight Feb. 18, 1919 1,800,855Bostrom Apr. 14, 1931 1,952,325 Looft Mar. 27, 1934 2,823,399 StewartFeb. 18, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 142,580 Sweden Oct. 20, 1953

